Fender holder and assembly

ABSTRACT

The fender assembly has a fender holder. The fender holder includes a base, to be attached to a berthing structure at a position proximate an edge of the berthing structure, and a fender engaging formation attached to said base. The fender assembly further includes a fender body. The fender engaging formation is adapted to hold the fender body such that said fender body extends outwardly from the fender holder so as to overlaps the edge of the berthing structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a fender holder and a fender assembly. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention concerns a fender assembly for protecting water-faring vessels and berthing structures against collision damage that may occur during the berthing of a vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In boating, fenders are employed as bumpers to absorb the kinetic energy of a water-faring vessel when the vessel is berthed against a berthing structure, such as a jetty wall. Current fenders, however, often fail to protect a vessel adequately against impact damage during a berthing procedure. In one typical arrangement, a fender is suspended at the side of the vessel by way of a length of rope. Often skippers will, however, misjudge the length of rope required to ensure that the fender is suspended at the correct position to prevent the vessel being damaged by a berthing structure during berthing of the vessel. Such oversight can cause substantial damage to both the vessel and the berthing structure.

As fenders are generally suspended at the side of a vessel, they can be prone to substantial lateral movement. Such lateral movement may at times cause a fender to be located in a position unsuitable for adequately protecting the vessel during berthing.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed herein a fender holder including:

a base adapted for attachment to a berthing structure at a position proximate an edge of said berthing structure; and

a fender engaging formation attached to said base, or forming part of, said fender engaging formation being adapted in use to receive and hold a portion of a fender body such that said fender body extends outwardly from said fender engaging formation so as to overlap said edge of said berthing structure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed herein a fender assembly including:

a fender holder including:

a base attached to a berthing structure at a position proximate an edge of said berthing structure, and

a fender engaging formation attached to said base; and

a fender body held by said fender holder, wherein said fender engaging formation is adapted to receive and hold a portion of said fender body such that said fender body extends outwardly from said fender holder and overlaps said edge of said berthing structure.

In a first preferred embodiment said fender engaging formation includes an upright support extending operatively upwardly from said base, said upright support holding a ring structure in an upright position wherein a central axis defined by said ring structure lies in a substantially horizontal plane.

Preferably said fender engaging formation includes two upright brackets adapted to hold said ring structure in said upright position, said upright brackets being attached to one another via an attachment member located between them.

In a second preferred embodiment said fender engaging formation includes a support that is adapted to hold opposing end portions of a substantially cylindrical fender body, said fender body extending along a longitudinal axis and said support being adapted to hold said cylindrical fender body so that said longitudinal axis lies in a substantially horizontal plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a first embodiment fender holder;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment fender holder;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment fender holder;

FIG. 4 is an image of a first embodiment fender assembly secured to a berthing structure and adjacent a berthed vessel; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment fender assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment fender holder, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The fender holder comprises a base 12. The base 12 includes two planar base flanges 14 and 16. Each base flange 14 and 16 includes a plurality of holes 18. In use the base 12 is adapted for removable attachment to a berthing structure by passing suitable fasteners, such as bolts, respectively through the holes 18 and holes in a surface of the berthing structure.

The fender holder 10 includes a fender engaging formation 20 that is attached to the base 12. The fender engaging formation 20 includes an upright support 22 that extends operatively upwardly from the base 12. The upright support 22 holds a ring structure 24 in an upright position so that in use a central axis X-X that is defined by the ring structure lies in a substantially horizontal plane. The fender engaging formation 20 includes two upright curved brackets 26 adapted to hold the ring structure in the upright position. The upright brackets 26 are attached to one another via a gusset 28 located between the brackets.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the fender engaging formation 20 is adapted in use to receive and hold a portion of a fender body 29, here a tear drop fender, such that the fender body extends outwardly from the fender engaging formation 20. The fender holder 10 and the fender body 27 define a fender assembly 29. In use the fender holder 10 is secured to a berthing structure 30 at a position proximate an edge 32 of the berthing structure 30. With the fender body 27 extending outwardly so as to overlap the edge of the berthing structure 32, the hull of a vessel 34 is protected against damage that may occur by the hull impacting with the berthing structure 30.

As show in FIG. 3, the upright brackets 26 each includes a hole 36 which is in register with the hole of the other bracket. This allows a connector such as a bolt, not shown, to pass through a first bracket, through a cavity provided in and end portion of the fender body 27 and through the second bracket. In this embodiment the cavity in the fender body 27 is the attachment eye of the tear drop fender. The holes 36 are located in side wall portions 37 of the upright brackets 26. The side wall portions 37 define a holding space 39 between them that is adapted to receive the end portion 47 of the tear drop fender 27 having the attachment eye. FIG. 3 shows that the upright brackets 26 are curved so as to accommodate the attachment end of the tear drop fender.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment fender assembly 40 which also includes a fender holder 10 having a base 12 for securing the fender assembly to a berthing structure. The fender assembly 40 also include a fender holder 10. In this embodiment the fender holder 10 includes a fender engaging formation 20 which comprises a support 42. The support 42 includes two opposing arms 44 that are adapted to hold opposing end portions 46 of a substantially cylindrical fender body 48 extending along a longitudinal axis Y-Y of the fender body. The support 42 is adapted to hold the cylindrical fender body 48 so that the longitudinal axis lies in a substantially horizontal plane.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. 

1. A fender holder comprising: a base adapted for attachment to a berthing structure at a position proximate an edge of said berthing structure; and a fender engaging formation attached to said base, or forming part thereof, said fender engaging formation being adapted in use to receive and hold a portion of a fender body such that said fender body extends outwardly from said fender engaging formation so as to overlap said edge of said berthing structure.
 2. A fender holder according to claim 1, wherein said fender engaging formation includes an upright support extending operatively upwardly from said base, said upright support holding a ring structure in an upright position wherein a central axis defined by said ring structure lies in a substantially horizontal plane.
 3. A fender holder according to claim 2, wherein said fender engaging formation includes two upright brackets adapted to hold said ring structure in said upright position, said upright brackets being attached to one another via an attachment member located between them.
 4. A fender holder according to claim 1, wherein said fender engaging formation includes a support that is adapted to hold opposing end portions of a substantially cylindrical fender body, said fender body extending along a longitudinal axis and said support being adapted to hold said cylindrical fender body so that said longitudinal axis lies in a substantially horizontal plane.
 5. A fender assembly comprising: a fender holder comprising: a base attached to a berthing structure at a position proximate an edge of said berthing structure; and a fender engaging formation attached to said base; and a fender body held by said fender holder, wherein said fender engaging formation is adapted to hold a portion of said fender body such that said fender body extends outwardly from said fender holder and overlaps said edge of said berthing structure. 